Decent and almost visionary thrillerWhen Yuri Davydov, a former Russian technician from a secret biological weapons plant, escaped to the United States he has high hopes of the American culture and economy. But quite soon he discovers that the American Dream turns out to be a real nightmare. In America his Russian diploma is not worth the paper it is printed on and the only job he can get is that of a taxi driver. Totally disillusioned he decides to return to his native country, but not before he gets his revenge. Using his knowledge of biological weapons and assisted by a neo-fascist skinhead militia he starts: Operation Wolverine.Vector is a showcase on how to write a good thriller. It has all the assets of a good medical thriller and proves again the craft ship of Robin Cook. The main characters may be a bit flat, but are portrayed in a way that gives enough substance to achieve the needed connection with the reader. The plotline is smoothly drawn, but does seem to fit a bit too perfectly. This makes the story at certain points rather unnatural. Indeed, every action described in the novel has its specific purpose somewhere throughout the story. This feels a bit too like Harry Potter and that does not always work for a realistic thriller. For instance, Dr. Jack Stapleton -the protagonist- turns out to have friends that are related to the victim and can give him the necessary link to the solution. True, this can happen, but it still is very unlikely.Apart from this hiccup, the subject that is covered by Robin Cook in Vector is tremendously freighting and in a way visionary. When Robin Cook finished this book in 1998, he could not expect what would happen after the Twin Towers disaster. The Antrax scare that followed is somehow predicted in Vector. The detail in which Robin describes this is in retrospect quite eerie. Even more, in the author's note he explains that it is not the question if this kind of terrorism will occur, but when it will occur. Sadly enough we know the answer to that question. This makes this thriller, a must read.
The unimaginable becomes a horrifying reality in Dr.Robin Cook's thriller, Vector. Medical examiner's Dr.Jack Stapleton and Dr.Laurie Montgomery are both presented with two very peculiar cases. When Dr.Stapleton diagnoses his patient as a rare case of anthrax, an infectious and usually fatal disease, and Dr.Montgomery examines the remains of a tortured member of a neofascist skinhead militia, the two are completely unaware of the fact that the cases are related. All the while, an angry Russian immagrant by the name of Yuri believes he has been denied the right of the "American Dream" and is anticipating his revenge. Working as a technician for the Soviet biological weapons industry before coming to American has given Yuri the perfect advance he needs to demolish the United States government. After teaming up with two far right survivalist and their team of skinheads who share Yuri's hatred of the U.S. government, they begin preparing for the ultimate terror: a modern bioweapon. Slowly, Dr.Stapleton begins to understand the connection between the cases, but will his conclusion come a second too late?I give this book 5 stars. Dr.Robin Cook definitely has a writing style in Vector that keeps you wanting more. From the very begining there is never "down time" in the book. Every page has you hooked. Also, the chapters are done in characters and gives better detail to each character's point of view. I would recommend Vector to anyone and everyone.
What do You think about Vector (2000)?
Robin Cook is a writer for me who always delivers the goods. The pace is hectic, the terror of someone releasing a biotoxin like anthrax in a large population centre like New York is realistic. There are some interesting characters like Davydov the disillusioned Russian immigrant who knows how to make bioweapons, he teams up with an Aryan terrorist group, despite having a black wife. The wife becomes one of the first victims of his home grown anthrax. I haven't read anyone on a par with Robin Cook in the field of medical thrillers, if you know anyone better please tell me.
—Jim
I've been reading Robin Cook since the late 1980s; he's one of the reasons I've long been interested in the medical sciences.I don't know what was so off-putting about this; the heavy-handed stereotyping of a Russian emigre as a vodka-swilling anti-Capitalist? The false portrayal of neo-Nazis as "far-right-wing" politicos? The pearl-clutching references to gun control? The ridiculousness of an otherwise level-headed, responsible coroner being whisked into a marriage proposal after mere weeks of dating?I don't know why this book lacks the story and character nuance of the typical Cook novel. One, or even two of these issues could be overlooked, but when they're all added together, even the meticulously narrated science can't overcome the gaping holes in a propped-up plot.
—Deanna
I finished this Audio Book while driving from Ames to St. Joseph Mo to Dallas TX on Thursday the 14th of March 2008. I bought it at Houseworks in Iowa City for $1.50 half price used, and I gave it to Tracey to take back to Claremont and listen. Turned out to be a page turner, or a tape turner in my case. I was impressed that even though it had quit a few characters it was pretty easy to keep them all straight. It deals with a scenario that could really happen, and would be world changing, and gets you thinking about the consequences. The book is one that you will want to keep reading, to see what happens next, and there are some twists and turns at the end.
—Ed
